Registration centres open

THE Elections Office was focusing on providing as many locations possible around the country where Fijians can register to vote, says Electoral Commission chairman Chen Bunn Young.

This, he said following the opening of a new voter registration centre in downtown Suva yesterday, offering a convenient location where Fijians could register before or after work, as well as during their lunch breaks or on the weekends.

"The commission is determined to pick up the pace of opening registration centres in convenient locations across Fiji," he said in a government statement.

"Last week, we opened a location in Nadi International Airport, this week it's this centre in downtown Suva, and we expect to have at least one more location up and running by the end of next week."

Mr Young said the purpose of these registration centres was to offer those Fijians who had not yet registered to vote the opportunity to do so on their own time.

"We are particularly encouraging young Fijians to come forward as they turn 18 and become eligible to register."

Mr Young said at present, approximately 85 per cent of eligible voters were registered.

The permanent registration centre is located in the Government Service Centre in the old Fiji Visitors Bureau building, and will be open Monday to Thursday, from 8am to 4.30pm, 8am to 4pm on Friday, and 8am to 1pm on Saturday.